Commissioners vote against nuclear waste transport resolution

Court to take action next month on a resolution that addresses five points

By Simone Jaser, sjasper@mrt.com

Published 6:02 pm, Monday, March 27, 2017

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Midland County Commissioners on Monday voted against the resolution as described for the proposed transport of high-level nuclear waste through the county.

Midland County Commissioners on Monday voted against the resolution as described for the proposed transport of high-level nuclear waste through the county.

Photo: MRT File

Commissioners vote against nuclear waste transport resolution

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Midland County commissioners on Monday voted against the resolution as described for the proposed transport of high-level nuclear waste through the county. The decision was based on five points members outlined to consider in the discussion.

Judge Mike Bradford said the language of the resolution included the word “consent,” but the county doesn’t have authority over the railways.

“We can’t prohibit this,” Bradford said. “We can only voice what our community says they don’t want. It is at this point a federal government project.”

The court is scheduled to take action on April 10 on a resolution that addresses five points.

Bradford said the court is considering the following points: local hearings along the proposed route; federal funding and training for first responders before the first shipment and for the duration of the transport; inspections and upgrades of rail capacity if it’s the chosen shipment method; explanation for not storing waste at closer sites; and explanation for moving the waste.

“We would like these questions answered and become a participant in the discussion — not a legal intervener,” Bradford said. “Talking with the legal community, they’re saying, ‘You’re going to have a hard time getting legal standing because there’s not a route now.’”

Proposed federal legislation would allow interim storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram report. Spent nuclear fuel rods from more than 62 sites could be transported on rail lines through Midland County to a site in Andrews. Waste Control Specialists has applied for a license to store high-level nuclear waste at the site temporarily.

Luis Sanchez, commissioner for Precinct 3, said residents called him to express concerns about the proposal.

“Some fears are possible terrorist attacks or any accidents,” Sanchez said. “Accidents can happen at 0.001 percent. Still, if one was to occur, how would we handle that? We talk about unfunded mandates. We would have to train local law enforcement and firefighters.”

Before the vote, about a dozen people addressed the court — including Karmen Bryant, president of the League of Women Voters of Midland, and David Rosen, chairman of the Midland County Democratic Party.

Local scientist Steven Schafersman said there are risks associated with transporting radioactive waste. He said bringing it to the interim storage site opens the possibility for additional shipments through the county.

“It’s not going to be permanent storage like Yucca Mountain,” Schafersman said. “You only want to have to move it once. You don’t want to have to move it twice.”

But Tom Jones, vice president of community relations for Waste Control Specialists, said safety hasn’t been a problem when transporting radioactive material in the United States.

“Thousands of shipments of nuclear fuel have gone safely,” Jones said. “Shipping containers have been designed almost indestructibly.”